WASHINGTON — Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards released the following statement applauding the Senate passage of the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes language authored by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) granting military women insurance coverage for a wide range of reproductive health care services, including abortion when a pregnancy results from rape or incest.

Source

Contact

“Today, the Senate took strides toward correcting an injustice that military women have faced for years. The Shaheen amendment approved today in the National Defense Authorization Act corrects years of inequity, brings military health care in line with the rest of the federal government, and ensures that military women have access to the health care coverage they deserve.

“Thanks to the Shaheen amendment, women who serve in the armed forces will have the same rights as many other women covered by federal health programs. This is an important step toward ensuring that women in the armed forces can make private medical decisions without the interference of politicians.

“Planned Parenthood applauds President Obama for his support and Senator Shaheen for her tireless leadership in fighting for the military women who risk their lives fighting for our nation.

“Today is a hard-fought victory for these brave women, but the fight is not yet over. We will continue to speak out on their behalf to ensure that the Shaheen amendment remains in the final version of the bill sent to President Obama for his signature.”

Planned Parenthood has been working to change this unjust law for years. As many as 19,000 military women are sexually assaulted each year, and until today, they could be denied insurance coverage for abortion even in cases of rape and incest.